Professor C.N.R. Rao is the National Research Professor and Linus Pauling Research Professor and Honorary President of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India. Also Distinguished Visiting Professor, Department of Materials, University of California, Santa Barbara. Prof. Rao is the past President of The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) with its office located in Trieste, Italy and is Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. Professor C.N.R. Rao is a fellow of 20 science academies. He has the unique honor of being a Fellow/Member of all the major academies of the world including: The Royal Society, UK; National Academy of Sciences, USA; Russian Academy of Sciences; Pontifical Academy of Sciences; French Academy of Sciences; and Japan Academy. He received his Ph.D. degree from Purdue University in 1958 and an honorary degree from Purdue University in 1982.

It is instructive and useful to examine the state of science in the country after 60 years of
independence. What one sees is a curious mixture of successes and disappointments, and
yet, one cannot but marvel at the great imagination of Pandit Nehru and the Parliament
for having committed India to the path of science in the very early years. India is
probably one of the few countries where a science policy resolution has been
unanimously adopted in the Parliament. We have also had the advantage of sound
traditions in modern science, with stalwarts leading scientific research in several areas in
the pre-independence period. Since gaining independence, the country has established
many agencies and institutions, and some of the mission-oriented agencies have been
able to fulfill the objectives and goals set for them. The number of higher educational
institutions has also increased enormously over the years.